Fans
of the 1998 film, "Elizabeth," should be happy
to hear that the sequel to the historical tale of the young
Queen Elizabeth I has arrived, boasting the same director
(Shekhar Kapur) and many of the same cast of characters. "Elizabeth:
The Golden Age" picks up the story of the famed English
Virgin Queen in the late 1580s, as Mary, Queen of Scots,
plots to take over her throne, and King Phillip II of Spain attempts
to conquer all of England with
his mighty Armada.

Elizabeth,
played once again by a luminous Cate Blanchett, has been
the queen for many years since we saw her last,
a popular ruler who has steadfastly refused to marry and
share her throne. Her earlier love interest, Robert Dudley
(Joseph Fiennes), is gone in this film, replaced by a swashbuckling
Clive Owen, who plays Sir Walter Raleigh. Theirs is an
uneasy romance, especially since he is also drawn to her
favorite lady-in-waiting, another Elizabeth (a dewy Abbie
Cornish).

Romantic elements becomes overshadowed by the political intrigues, as Mary,
Queen of Scots, and King Phillip II each attempt to wrest the crown from the
English queen. It's a good idea to brush up on your history before seeing this
film. Otherwise, you may just be slightly bewildered as to who is who in the
sprawling tale.

The
one thing that is clear is that Cate Blanchett still
knows how to inhabit Elizabeth's psyche. She is once
again a compelling queen—and her astonishing
costumes are practically worth the price of admission
alone. Eloquently expressing the queen's lonely existence,
the Oscar-winning actress gives yet another top-notch
performance, especially as she rallies her countrymen
to repel the invading Spanish Armada.

The film disappoints, however, in its overly histrionic soundtrack and camera
shots that distract from the fascinating story the filmmakers are telling. "Elizabeth:
The Golden Age" would have been a better movie if Kapur had avoided indulging
in those over-the-top and unnecessary moments. Still, for fans of historical drama in general and Cate Blanchett in particular, this is a beautiful film that
cries out for viewing in a theater, if just for a thirty-foot look at the costumes.